Lubricating apparatus



Nov. 14,1933. A; w. READER 1,934,883

Filed Sept. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 14, 1933. A, w READER 1,934,833

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @fifence characters designate like parts throughout Patented Nov.` 14, 1933 Allan Warren Reader, lierndaltle; Mich.,as"signorto Alemite CorporationfCh'icago, Il1.,-a corpo-v ration of Delaware Application Septemberfi), 19.29. Serial No. 391,119

11 claims.l (C1. 12M-J7)v My invention relates to centralized systems of chassis lubrication and has for its main object` an improved -and simplified arrangementfor supplying lubricant to the king-pin, tie rod bolts and front .Wheel braking mechanism vof an automobile.

An object of myinvention is to` providea conduit arrangement wherein lubricant is Asupplied to the king-pin throughthekey bolt which :se'v

cures the king-pinl in position. w

Another object of-` my invention is to provide an improved and simpliiied conduit arrange? vmentior supplyinglubricant to theking-pin and front wheelspindle assembly, including the wheel brake and tiered pivot. f Still another object of my `invention is .tol provide an improved conduit system forisupplying lubricant to the king-pin and associatedmechanism byV supplyingnthej lubricant directly to the king-pin itself.

- i Further objectstandfadvantagesof my invention will become more apparent through thefol- 'lowing detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which Y i end portion of an automobile chassis; 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged Vertical cross sectional view of my improved swiveled conduit connection;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional viewtaken ontheiine 3 3 of Figz; and' v v Fig.. 4 is a horizontal cross sectionalview illustrating another form of adaptation of my inven-jr,

tion. f l Y v Referring tothe drawings in which like referthe severalV Views, there isshown a'front axle l6 having a spindle body V'l at its end and'ajfront wheel spindle fork 8 which carriesand supportsv v the wheel `of the automobile. A'king-pinv'aextends through the spindle body 7 andfvspindle' fork8 Aforming'a pivot Afor theV spindle. Y

A tie rod 10 is pivotally connected to thespindle arm 11 by-means o'fa-boltf12 as; shown in'Fig.

The king-pini) rotates in bearingsdli Land 1.5.: locatedin the'upper and lower ends of the spindle fork 8 vand is keyed in the spindle body '1 inthe end of the-axle 6 by means of'a tapered key'bolt 16 which is'headed at one end and threaded'at the othed to receive a nut 17 ,andiwasher l18 for securing it in place; The key bolt 16'ha's a longitudinally'extending central bore 19 which is threaded at one' end'to receive acoupling 2 0 for connecting the oil pipe supply line -21 to-the 'end ofthe key bolt formingl the keyv bolt.

, Fig. 1 is a plan View of a fragment of the front `has a central flow resistance plug 34 screw metal'cagev to'hold'itfin place; The` cage thus` a sealed connection so-that lubricant may ilow from-the-supply line 21 into the bore 19v of the key bolt. d.

A short passageway 22 communicates with the bore 19 to a1low lubricant to now 4outwardly from A(iq The king-pin` has a central `bore 23 which is connected to the Vpassageway 22 by,V drilled hole 251 approximately at the center of the king-pin.

screw threaded to receiveY a resistance unitjt-` ting l26A which comprises a body member-2'?A hav- Ving la screw threaded central bore 28 adapted lto receive a screw'flow resistance plug 29 having flattened threads" Since lthe threads cutin the 70 bore of" bo`dy 2T are V-shaped in cross section, a long, small, helical groove is formed between theY bodyI andtheplug. This groove formsV a 'passageway offering high resistance to theflow ofr lubricant. v Y f A metal cap 30 is secured in agroove 31 inthe lower end Vof the spindle 'fork 8.

vA similar r'esistanceunit ttng r33 is' screw V threadedfinthe upper end of the king-pin 9 and andthe threads of thefflow resistance plug 3 4- 85 l and thence through bores 35v and36 tothe bearing "14.- lThe plug 34 also Ahas a central fb'orer37 extending longitudinally therethrough Y c `v`Ailciating valve disc 38 madeo'f oiled silk-'or other suitablematerialis seated on' a shoulder 39.90 formedwithintheupperendof the `tting33"f fAn lapertured metal -cage 40 I is placed over the valve '38,` 'The upper part of thel bodyfof the resistanceun'it fitting 331s crimpedovei"V the 'v limitsvertical and lateral' movement of thevalve disc andm'aintains it adjacentits seat at all times- The vvalve 38'actsas an eirtremelyisensitive check'l valve` Sand Vwill-thusjv v"prevent reverse flQW 0f oil andthe admissioripf air into the king-4 100 A cylindrical angednippl 4 1 is mounted on the upperfend--Vof Ythe spindle fork 8 by meansfcifAV f screwsfiZ. The vI iipplellil is screw threaded on its vouter surface thereceiye T-shaped headfiSlv. n."

centrallyapertured leather cup washer havng'its flangel engagingcthe smooth cylindrical vbore'in the nipple 41,' is seated; on the `upperjer'ld oi Vthe resistancqunit body`- 3 3fandis held snugly in place by means of a centrally 'apertured metal .110

. he lower end l'ofI the bore `23 is enlarged yand 651 n Letters .Patent is: l y Y i 1. In apparatus for supplying lubricant totthe is confined between this washer and the T-shaped head 43. The head has a vertical bore 47 which is in alignment with the bore 23 in the center of the king-pin 9. This bore 47 communicates with a lhorizontal bore 48=which is screwA threaded at both endslto receivelubr'icant.conduits 49 and 50 which conduct lubricant to the tie rod bolts and braking mechanism, respectively.

Lubricant under pressure is supplied to the conduit 21 from some central source (not shown. in the drawings) and flows through the bore 19 in the key bolt 16, through vthe shortergboref22`f, therein, and through the hole 24 into. the' central,

bore 23 of the king-pin. Part of this lubricant flows downwardly throughthe. measuring valve.,

26 to lubricate the lower bearing 15;A Au larger part ofthe lubricant flows upwardly through; the flow resistance plug 34 of the uppermeasuring valve 33 and thence through apertures'35and36 to lubricateA the lupperf. bearing 1`4 .of the spindle. Lubricant also flows upwardly through thecen# tral bore 3710i fthe-plug 34, past the valve-38and through the bore 47 of thehswivelheadintothe conduits 491and =50,`y respectively, to lubricate-the tie rod boltsand -brakingmechanisn-i; The connectionof the conduits 49 andv 50" with `their respective bearings preferably includes resistance unit fittings 49a and .50a-fwhichmayjbeol any conventionalconstruction. Itwill be understood that `the resistancey to flowV oflubricantxthrough the' resistance unit ttings 26, 33; 49a and y 50a may be made tofdiirer so mature lubricant win be properlyjproportionedbetween the different bearings in accordance with their yrespective lubrif I cant requirements;

When the spindlefork is movedpivotally about the king-pin the cup leather washer 44 'will'maintain a lubricant-tight seal be twe en t he flanged nipple 41 and the end ofthe resistance unit t;

' ting 33. Thus the conduits 49 and 50, which lead to bearings which revolve about the kingfpinQ,

may be rigid and rigidly secured to their respec-v tive bearings.

lIn Fig. 4, Ihave illustrated :afmodiied form -of my invention showingthe vfront axle 6 andSspindle 'A carrying theking-pin withitscentral aper tureZSf butin this formfgmy invention.; 1151111- plyathe lubricant directly to the central aperture, 2 '31byimeans Qf va wmmunicatinabore: rwhichjis enlarged and lscrew threaded at its; end to receive.

the Supplrconduit 21, t0 @Gadget-,lubricant to the central bore-23 of thekingrpim and which p assesf through V asuitable hole aformedgin the, axle. Theinvention is capable of-wide variation with-v in equivalentlimits andI contemplate such -,var-

ation as may be desirable oruseful in the p articular; adaptation of` vthe invention sh own, or inA its adaptation to. other-apparatus I Vdo not restrict myself.v in any=-unessentia1 particulars, but what-I A.claim and desireto secureby l steering knuckle y and associated bearings'of an automotivev vehicle, the--combinatiod of any axle,-

a yoked spindle, Va king-pin gpivotall-y` 'connecting I, said spindle and axle, said kingepinhavingalongitudinallpassageway therein, meansfor supplying llubricant underpressure" Yto`, said ,longitudinal passageway,` a lubricant flow resistance ttin secured in one end of. said passageway, aconduit 55j member rigfdly securedto ,said spindle adjacent.l

` hat-shaped washer 45 which-is pressed against the cup leather by a compression's'pring 46 which said end of said king-pin passageway, said member having a bore in axial alignment with said king-pin, and a spring pressed gasket engaging the end of said flow resistance tting and the walls of the bore in said member.

2. In apparatus for supplying lubricant to the steering knuckle and associated bearingsof an automotive vehicle, the combination ci anaxle, a steering knuckle, a king-pin pivotally connecting said steering knuckle and axle and having two bea-ring surfaces, saidking-pin having an axial passageway therein, means for supplying lubricant under'pressure to said axial passageway, a

lubricant i'low resistance tting secured in the upper end of said passageway, a branched conduitmember rigidly secured to said steering v4. A lubricant distributing and conducting, descr,

vice comprising a body adapted to be secured in a lubricant passageway, said v body having an internally threaded bore, an axially bored plug,

screwed into said bore, the threads on said plug and in said body being or dii'erent shape thereby L dening a restrictedpassageway,between the body andthe plug, and an outletA duct `in said body communicating withsaid restricted passageway.

5; In alubricant distributing system, the com- Y bination of a shaft and a relatively moving-bear i;

ing therefor, a passageway in said shaft connected toa supply ofV lubricant under pressure, a bored ttingatone end o said passageway', a plug held within the bore o said fitting, said plug dening @restricted passageway for the flow of lubricant between the bore of said fitting and the external surface of saidplug and having a passageway eX- tending ,therethrough, ducts leading from said restricted passageway to conduct lubricant to the bearing surfaces of 4said shaft, a cylindrically bored member securedto said.bearing, a cup leather-havingfits lface engaging the end of said vfittinga-nd its cylindrical surfaces Ythe walls of the bore in said member, resilient means for holding said -cuple'ather in position, and 'conduitmeans connected to said member for conducting lubricant to bearingsstationar-y relative to said rstnamed bearing,V Y

6. Inca lubricant distributingsystem, the combination of a shaft and a relatively moving bearing therefor, a passagewayin said shaft Vconnected to ajsupply offlubricant under pressure, a bored ittingnat one end :of said passageway, a plug secured within the `bore of said tting, said plugand .tting; defining a restricted `passageway fortheflow of lubricant, said plug having a passageway extending therethrough, a duct leading fromv said restricted passageway to conduct lubricant to the bearing surfaces of said shaft, ak

cylindrical' hre-adjacent saidbearing, apap f leather having itsfaceengagi'ng the end of said-v itting. andits cylindrical siu'facesthe wallsjof said bore, and conduit means cenni-actedl to said member for conductinglubricant to bearings sta-4 tionary relative. tok said rstfnamed bearing; .Y

. '7. In a centralized lubricating system for automotive vehicles, the combination, of a front axle,

a yoked spindle, a king-pin pivotally connecting said axle and yoked spindle, Va, bolt for holding said king-pin rigid in said axle, a longitudinal lubricant conducting passageway in` said kingpin, means for supplying lubricant to said passageway, said means being stationary relative to said axle, `a lubricant flow resistance fitting secured in each end of said passageway for apportioning the lubricant between the bearings of said king-pin, `a swivel member secured to said yoked spindle in axial alignment-with said passageway, means for forming a seal between said swivel member and the fitting adjacentthereto, a relatively free lubricant Aconducting passageway extending through said last-named fitting,V

check valve means in' said fitting, and conduit means connected to'said swivel member for supplying lubricant to bearings movable with said Y yoked spindle.

8. In a centralized lubricating system-for automotive vehicles, the combination of a front axle, a steering knuckle, a king-pin pivotallyl connecting said axlel and steering knuckle, means for holding said king-pin rigid with one of said members, a lubricant conducting passagewayv extending longitudinally in said king-pin, means for lsupplying lubricant to said passageway, said means being stationary relative to said axle, a lubricant flow resistance tting secured in eachend ofvsaid passageway for apportioning the lubricant between the bearings of said king-pin, a swivel member secured to one of said members in axial alignment with said passageway, means for forming a seal between said swivel member and the tting adjacent thereto, a relatively free lubricant` conducting passageway'l lextending through said last-named fitting, and conduit means connected to said swivel member for supplying lubricant to bearings movable with said swivel member.

I 9. In apparatus for supplying lubricant to the steering knuckle and associatedv bearings of an automotive vehicle, the combination of an axle, a yoked spindle, a king-pin pivotally connecting said'spindle and axle, said king-pinhaving a longitudinal passageway therein, means for supplying lubricant under pressure to said longi- Y 'in said member.

tudinal passageway, a lubricant ilow resistancefitting secured in one end of said passageway, a.

non-return valve therein, a conduit member rig.- I

10. In apparatus for supplying lubricant to the steering knuckle and associated bearings of an automotive vehicle, the combination of an axle, a steering knuckle, a king-pin pivotally' connecting said steering knuckle laxle. and having ,two bearing surfaces, said king-pin having an axial passageway therein, means for ,supplying `lubricant under pressure to'saidA axial passageway, a lubricant flow resistance unit secured in boththe upper and the lower ends of said passageway for allowing a limited flow of lubricant to pass to said steering knuckle and axle bearings, said upper flow resistance unit having an axial sol bore therethrough, a non-return Valve covering said bore, a branched conduit member rigidly secured to said steering knuckle adjacent the upper end of said king-pin, said member having a bore in axial alignment Wtih said king-pin, and

a gasket forming a seal between said tlow resistance fitting and said member. f

11. In apparatus for supplying lubricant to the steering knuckle and associated bearings of an automotive vehicle, the combination of an axle, a steering. knuckle, a king-pin pivotally connecting said steering knuckle axle and havingtwo bearing surfaces, said king-pin having an axial passageway therein, means for supplying lubricant under pressure to said axial passageway, a lubricant ow resistance unit securedv in both the upper andthe lower ends of said passageway for allowinga limited ilow of lubricant to pass to said steering knuckle and axle bearings, said upper flow resistance unit `having an axial bore therethrough, a branched conduit member rigidly 

